Controlling Deer Damage In Georgia

Managing Deer Populations

Harvest

One of the most effective ways to reduce deer damage to crops is
to reduce the number of deer. This can be accomplished by allowing
gun or bow hunting on your land during the liberal legal hunting
seasons for no charge or with a paid lease agreement. Providing
hunting access not only reduces deer pressure on crops but also
provides a source of food and recreation for hunters. Deer can
build up high populations quickly where agricultural crops are
adjacent to good cover, therefore the continuation of hunting year
after year is necessary to maintain acceptable stable deer
populations. Revenues from hunting leases can be used to recover
losses from damage or pay land taxes. With open hunting land at a
premium and leases ranging from $2 to $36 per acre, leasing your
land to hunters can be profitable. Some organized bow hunting
groups specialize in urban/suburban deer harvest in a conscientious
and discrete manner. These groups often donate harvested game to
selected food pantries and shelters. Contact any Georgia Department
of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division Game
Management office for information on bow hunting groups for your
area.

Special Crop Damage Permits

Under most circumstances, deer harvest during legal hunting
seasons should adequately reduce deer populations. However, in some
instances special permits may be issued to commercial farmers to
allow removal of nuisance antlerless deer outside of the open
hunting season. These permits can only be issued to growers having
a 3-acre minimum of commercial crops. Crop damage permits to remove
a specific number of antlerless deer are obtained from the DNR Game
Management Section (see page 1). A field assessment of damage by
wildlife biologists or technicians may be required.